Last week I cried.
Things have been pretty rough but I had kept away from the edge and keep my worries far from my mind because I have no covenant with frustration. When a friend offered to help out I was initially reluctant. I wondered if I was not exaggerating the situation hoping to get pity. I saw clearly that I was not.
I recall Layi Adekoya (my brother and my friend) back then telling me that I liked to give but I never wanted to take. He made it quite clear that it was not right not to receive. I don’t recall saying anything but I never forgot. So I made up my mind to accept assistance.
Then the call came and I went off to the machine. I looked at the figures and my heart stopped. I just stood there staring at it. People behind me did not appear to have sensed anything. I got back after a while and pulled out my card. I walked towards my car but I was not going to the car. I was just loitering trying to find my bearing. How could this be?
Finally in the car, I sat for about three minutes before placing a call to say my gratitude in a voice I could barely recognize. After this, I started the car, backed up and drove to the intersection and waited for oncoming vehicles. I just noticed that I could not see clearly so I brought up my arm and wiped my eyes… that was when I saw the wetness.
Tears in my eyes
Another person’s kindness to me had made the tears come. Then the sniff sniff, trying to bite back … how could anyone be this kind?
Eventually, I found that it was a number of people, some in Nigeria, that came together to give me a lifeline. I would have loved to list them and thank them but I doubt that they would even give me the list. They have learnt to give. They know my long prayers will not make them richer neither would my thanksgiving make them any more blessed. What is theirs by their father is theirs already whether I add or not. But I add this anyway … your lights will never burn out.
Now, I have learnt and I am going to do the same thing they did. I am going to find a community of givers and we will make another person cry. If we can, someone will sniff every month. Still, Rotimi, I thank you.
Last week, I cried

A post on FB last week drew attention to the perception of some, of the seeming delay in the take-off of the Degree Programme of Tai Solarin College of Education in affiliation with the University of Ibadan. The impression given in that post is that it is the provost who is not interested in fast-tracking the programme. This is so far from the truth!
The provost is of course aware that such opinions exist. In a jocular remark (which he repeated to the members of the TASCE Alumni Association when they visited him) at a Town Hall Meeting of staff of the College held well before the programme was approved, he addressed that opinion. He said he was aware that some people felt he could spend some money and thing would fall into place. He said he was interested in doing things right because he did not want any embarrassments for himself or anyone else. He said he had done everything that was required of him and it rested on UI authorities to do their part. However, he said, if there was anyone who knew who to bribe, the one could come and get money but if things backfire, there would be the devil to pay. The entire assemble roared in laughter but no one showed up. Everyone understood what he meant. He was not going to bribe!
This short episode sums up the provost’s attitude towards the programme. There is no one in that establishment more desirous of seeing that programme begin than the provost himself. However, he says he does not wish to cut corners. University of Ibadan is not the type of university you stampede into actions. But even if there was someone there willing to be stampeded (and he knows none), the provost says he is not interested. So he summed up his address to the members of the Alumni Association by saying …’when we are ready we shall begin”. This is on tape.
It would help to clear the air on this. It would also help if anyone who has new ideas forwards them to the provost. But it would help the most to reassure all stakeholders in the TASCE enterprise that everything is on course. It makes no sense to get to the middle of one’s course only to be told that certain things were not properly done and therefore … that is when erstwhile saints begin to resemble the devil proper.
Let us all believe, we have come this far and nothing will deter us.